Umbrella



Aug,-- 7, 1951 JmJMuLLER ETAL UMBRELLA Filed April'll, 194

l2 Jasepl; H. Mueller Charles A. Mueller;

., Fig. 4. lmllq I zgiLlwll I Inventors Charles A. Mueller, 8n Agatha-'6. Mueller Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE .UMBRELLA land, Ohio Application April 11, 1949, Serial No. 86,652

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in umbrellas, and the principal object of the invention is to provide adequate protection against adverse weather conditions, but at the same time eliminate the usual inconvenience of carrying a bulky, conventional umbrella, the presence of which is usually found to be particularly annoying when it is not raining.

The above object is achieved by the provision of the instant umbrella consisting of a pair of hingedly connected panels, together with means for foldably supporting the panels in an inverted v-shaped, operative position.

An important feature of the invention resides in the specific structural arrangement of this panel supporting means, While another feature of the invention resides in the utilization of the same means for holding the open umbrella above the head, for carrying the folded umbrella and for retaining the panels of the folded umbrella in their closed or folded position.

One of the primary advantages of the invention resides in its simplicity of construction, which facilitates manufacturing and marketing of the umbrella at a very low cost, so cheaply that the umbrella may be purchased for the occasion so to speak, when the rain starts and may then be discarded when the rain is over, this being possible without undue waste of expense or extravagance.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is an underside plan view of the invention in a flat position;

Figure 3 is an underside perspective view of the invention in its open position and in readiness for use, and

' Figure 4 is a perspective view of the invention in its folded position.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of an umbrella designated generally by the reference character ID, the same embodying in its construction a pair of panels I2, I 4, preferably made of cardboard,

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-195) Or the like, these panels being hingedly connected together by a flexible tape [6, or in any other suitable manner. Alternatively, the panels I2, I4 may be formed integrally from one sheet of material provided with a transverse fold.

A rod I8 is rotatably mounted in an obliquely extending position on the underside of the panel I2, this being achieved by providing the panel I2 with a plurality of bearing brackets wherein the rod or member I8 is rotatably journaled.

One end portion, that is, the outer end portion of the rod I8 is angulated as indicated at 22 and then is arcuated to form a, substantially U- shaped, resilient, handle 24, while the inner end portion of the rod I8 is also angulated as at 26.

This end portion 26 constitutes what may be referred to as a supporting limb and is releasably engageable with an arched portion 28 of a catch 30 which is secured to the underside of the panel I4 by a plurality of brackets 32.

Matters are so arranged that the handle 24, the portion 22, the portion 26 and the intermediate portion of the rod I8 which is journaled in the brackets 20 are all disposed in a common plane,

1 so that the entire rod may be rotated in the brackets 20 to a position shown in Figure 2 wherein it lies flatly on the underside of the panel [2. In this position the rod portion 26 is substantially parallel to the hinge line 34 and the handle 24 projects beyond the marginal edge of the panel I2 so that the panel l4 may be folded upon the panel I2 and the resilient handle 24 may then be sprung outwardly so that the free end of the handle, preferably provided with a ball 36, is disposed at the outside of the panel I4, as shown in Figure 4. It will be apparent from the foregoing that in this position the entire umbrella may be conveniently carried when it is not in use, the handle 24 effectivel retaining the panels l2, I4 in their folded position. The ball 36 on the handle 24 is not only ornamental, but also prevents the outer surface of the panel l4 from being scratched by the free end of the handle.

When it is desired to use the umbrella, the free end portion of the handle 24 is sprung inwardly so that the ball is at the inside of the panel 'I4, whereupon the panels may be unfolded or If desired, suitable windows 38 may be provided in the panels l2, l4 so as to enable the user of the umbrella to properly negotiate his or her way through traffic.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an umbrella, the combination of a pair of hingedly connected panels swingable from an inverted V-shaped operative position to a juxtaposed folded position, a rod-shaped member rotatably mounted on one of said panels and having an outer end portion formed to provide a handle, the inner end portion of said member constituting an angula-ted supporting limb, and a catch provided on the remaining panel, said limb being engageable with said catch to foldably support said panels in an operative position.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle is engageable with said remaining panel to retain the panels in a folded position.

3. An umbrella comprising a pair of hingedly connected panels swingable from an inverted V- shaped operative position to a juxtaposed folded position, a rod rotatably mounted in an obliquely extending position on one of said panels and having an outer end portion projectable beyond a marginal edge of the associated panel and arcuated to provide a substantially U-shaped resilient handle, the inner end portion of said rod constituting an angulated supporting limb, and a catch secured to the remaining panel, said rod being rotatable by said handle to selectively engage said limb with said catch and to facilitate engagement of the free end portion of said handle with said remaining panel, whereby said panels may be selectively retained in operative and folded positions.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 together with a ball provided at the free end of said handle and engageable with the outer surface of said remaining panel when the panels are in their folded position.

JOSEPH H. MUELLER. CHARLES A. MUELLER, SR. AGATHA C. MUELLER. CHARLES A. M'UELLER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,023,635 Flues Apr. 16, 1912 1,753,666 Ryder Apr. 8, 1930 2,430,042 Bisbing Nov. 4,1947 

